GREENBAY, WISC. (WFRV) - Long
past the "folk music scare" of the 1960s, the Shawano Folk Music Festival returns
this weekend for a 35th year in and around the Mielke Arts Center at Shawano.

The event is a broad mix of music, dance and activities.
Fine artists and crafters line the MielkePark paths, and there is
programming for children. Info: www.shawanofestival.com.

The phrase "folk music" encompasses so much that the
festival organizers take a stab at a definition that goes like this:

" 'Folk music' is as hard to define as other kinds of music.
We define it as music that comes directly from the culture and experiences of
people, rather than coming from or through commercial interests. It includes
much of the music we all know - but we can't quite say where we learned it. It
tends to be acoustic - but not always. It can involve a lot of audience
participation - but not always. It can be very old music (decades and centuries
old) - but not always (it could be music that was written last week). It's old
favorites, sing-alongs, blues, bluegrass, jazz, children's music, ballads,
dance tunes and silly songs. It's music that comes out of the culture of
Appalachia, the American West, American cities, the Louisiana bayou and Tin Pan Alley. It's
music that comes out of the cultures of the British Isles, Europe, South
America, Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, and Australia. It's music for every age
group, from very young children to grandparents. Folk music doesn't get played
much on the radio, but it's as alive as rock and roll."

Friday and Saturday evening concerts are held inside
air-conditioned center, with four or five acts each night.

Saturday and Sunday daytime programs include music, dance,
children's programs, craft demos, sing-alongs, and instruction on four outdoor
stages in Shawano's MielkePark. Local vendors offer
an array of food, and the Open Stage invites budding musicians a chance to
perform for an audience.

The event goes on rain or shine.

The festival is sponsored by the Shawano County Arts Council
and is produced by volunteers.

- Tonantzin Mexican Dance Company, dances and colorful
costumes from the Aztec empire and Mexico's
many ethnic and cultural traditions; from Green
Bay

- Stas Venglevski and Mischa Litvin, Russian folk tunes,
classical music and more, played on the bayan and domra, www.stasv.com

Also appearing at the festival are, Clinton Miller, guitarist,
composer, singer and visual artist, www.clintonjmiller.com; John Doxtator, country, bluegrass,
folk and old-time music from Gresham; Kay Kuester-Doran, teacher of folk dances
from the Americas and around the world; Cliff Ellertson, a familiar voice in
Shawano folk music, with his twist on country and folk; 50% Folk, singing old
favorites.